Vaporizing unit for retort burners



VAPORIZING UNIT FOR RETORT BURNER-3' Filed May 20, 1944 INVENTOR:

fi yd W Yaw/s,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 8, 1949 VAPORIZING UNIT FOR RETORT BURNERS Boyd W. Tullis,Wichita, Kans., assignor to The Coleman Lamp and Stove Company, Wichita,Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application May 20, 1944, Serial No.536,485

11 Claims.

This invention relates to Vaporizers of the type employed in vaporizingliquid fuel delivered to liquid fuel burning appliances.

Prior to the present invention Vaporizers of this character have beenconstructed for vaporizing straight run gasolines, and a warning wasgiven by the manufacturer to avoid the use therein of ordinary motorfuels, particularly those containing anti-knock compounds, gums, andlike objectionable compounds. This warning was necessary because theobjectionable compounds decomposed at vaporizing temperature of the fueland solid particles resulting from decomposition collected within theVaporizers to such an extent that the Vaporizers clogged and thecontained parts such as the cleanout needle became relatively immovableafter a few hours burning operation.

Straight run gasolines are not readily available in all communities andit has been highly desired to provide a vaporizer that operatessuccessfully on ordinary motor fuels, as such fuels can be purchasedeven in the more isolated places.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide a vaporizer capable of operating over relatively longer periodsusing ordinary motor fuels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple andinexpensive vaporizer having a relatively large capacity so that it maybe operated over a long period, then discarded and replaced by a newunit.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a vaporizer constructedas a unit for facilitating replacement thereof; to provide a Vaporizerwith a cleanout needle guide that forms a part of the replacement unitand which provides for ready insertion of the cleanout needle whenreplacing the vaporizer; and to provide a vaporizer with a needle guidewhich eliminates interference with operation thereof by decomposedparticles of fuel which result when a motor fuel is used.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which isillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a vaporizer constructedin accordance with the present invention and showing its attachment tothe fuel control valve of a liquid fuel burning appliance.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the vaporizer on the line 2-2 of Fig.I particularly illustrating support of the entrance end of the needleguide.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the vaporizer particularlyillustrating packing of the needle to prevent leakage into the needleguide.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the inlet portion of thevaporizer tube and the adjacent portions of the needle guide parts shownin disassembled spaced relation to better illustrate constructionthereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

l designates a liquid fuel vaporizer embodying the features of thepresent invention and which includes an elongated tubular body 2 havinga relatively thin wall 3 forming a cylindrical vaporizing chamber 4having ample diameter for collection of solid particles resulting indecomposition of fuel when the vaporizer is in operation. The inlet end5 of the vaporizer tube is swaged as at E to provide a supporting neck 1of smaller diameter and which slidably and rotatably mounts a union nut3 by which the vaporizer tube is mounted upon a fuel control valve 9 ofa fuel burning appliance (not shown). The valve 9 is of the usualconstruction in that it has an externally threaded branch ill on whichthe nut 8 is turned to connect the vaporizer tube. The branch of thevalve is provided with a bore II in which is reciprocably mounted aneedle actuating plunger I2 that is manipulated by a rotary lever I3 asin usual practice. The nut 8 has an internal shoulder I4 engaging anoutwardly flaring flange l5 on the neck of the vaporizer and which seatsupon an annularly beveled edge 16 of the branch [0 of the regulatingvalve. With this arrangement the nut is retained upon the neck of thevaporizer and forms a part thereof.

The opposite end of the vaporizer is externally threaded as at l? tomount a cap l8 for closing that end of the vaporizer tube and whichcarries a collar 19 having an internally threaded bore 20 to mount afuel discharge tip 2|, the tip 2| being provided with a relatively smalloutlet orifice 22 located within the extended axis of the vaporizer tubeas shown in Fig. l.

Reciprocably supported within the vaporizer tube is a cleanout needleincluding a rod 23 having a hook-shaped end 24 engaging within theaperture 25 of the ear 26 on the plunger I2 whereby the cleanout needleis operably connected with the plunger and the rotating lever therefor.The opposite end of the cleanout needle projects within the bore of thecollar I9 and into a recess 21 of the fuel tip where it carries a needlepoint 28 adapted to reciprocate through the orifice 22 when the rotatinglever is actuated as later described.

In order to prevent interference with operation of the needle by anysolid particles collecting within the vaporizer, the portion of theneedle which extends through the vaporizing section of the tube issupported within a tubular guide or shield 2Q, the tube having an innerdiameter to freely pass the body portion of the cleanout needle so thatthe cleanout needle is freely movable therein. The end of the guide tubelocated Within the discharge-end of the vaporizer tube'is supportedwithin an opening 36 formed within a porous support comprising aplurality of screen disks 3! that are pressed within the end of the tubeclosed by the cap it asshown in Fig. l. The opposite end of the tube isthreaded as at 32 to engage in the threads 33 of ac'ollard lwhich formsa part of a packing box 35 as'best shown in Fig.4.

The packing box includes a cylindrical wall portion 36 of largerexternal diameter than the collar 33 to provide an annular shoulder 31for seating the packing box against a platelike bracket 38 when thecollar 3 is projecting through an opening 390i 1e bracket, the free endof the collar being spun over the upper face of the bracket as indicatedat id-to retain the packing box anchored thereto as shown in Fig. 1.

-An internal shoulder 4| is also provided for engaging one end of apacking sleeve 42 inserted in the packing box and held in sealingcontact with the body portion of the needle by a washer which isretainedin position withinthe packing boxby'spinningthe free edge-44thereof over the face of the washer. The plate-like bracket-38 is ofsubstantiallytriangular shape to provide relatively pointedends45.46,-and 4'? that are slightly indented-into the wall of the tubeadjacent the enlargedendof the swaged portion '6 thereof to anchor thebracket against longitudinal movement within the vaporizer tubeuponreciprocation-of the cleanoutneedle. The sides -48 of the bracketcooperate with the wall of the vaporizer tube to provide a plurality ofpassageways 49 wherethrough the fuel is adapted to flow into thevaporizing portion-of the tube. The vaporizing portion of-the 'tube-ispreferablyloosely filled with metallicwool 'or'the like 5!] (Fig. 1) toenhance heat conduction from the wallof the'vaporizer and :promote heatcontact 'area with the fuel being passed-through-the vaporizer tube.when'in operation.

It is thus obvious that the vaporizer tube 2, needle guide 29, capl8,"fue1 tip 2|, and union nut 8 form a unit assembly so that thevaporizer units may be readily removed when necessary and replaced witha new unit.

In assemblying the :unit, the packing sleeve 42 is inserted inthepacking box'35 followed by the Washer '43 and the projecting edge 44is spun thereover'to cooperate with the internal shoulder 41 'atthe-opposite endof the packing to hold the packing-in compressedposition for sealing contact :with the cleanout needle when passedtherethrough. The collar =34 of the cleanout tube is then passedthrough-the opening 39 01 thebracket 38 so that the shoulder31seatsthereagainst and then the free edge-of the collar is spun overthe plate-like bracket'as shown in Fig. 1. The tubular guide 29 for thecleanoutneedle 23'is then screwed into the internallythreaded collar 34and-the assembly is inserted through theilarger openend of the vaporizertube 2 and'moved to a. position so that the relatively pointedends45,46; and 41 of-the bracket plate 38 engage the enlarged and of theswaged portion 6 of the tube whereupon a contractingpressure is appliedto the walls of the vaporizer tube tocause the ends 45, 46, and-41 tosligh dent the-metal of theitube "foranchoring 4 the guide tube therein.The metallic wool or the like 50 is rolled in tubular form and insertedWithin the vaporizing chamber portion of the tube and with an innerdiameter of the roll sufficient to pass over the cleanout needle guidetube. After the wool is inserted in the vaporizer chamber the screens 3|are pressed into the open threadediendx oftthe tube 2iforisupporting theadjacent end of the cleanout needle guide in axial relation with thevaporizer tube. The cap 18 is then screwed upon the threaded end of thevaporizer 'tube'and the fuel tip inserted within the collar portion i9thereof. The union nut 8 may be'slid'upon the reduced portion of thevaporizer is discarded. Thecleanout needle is thenipassed through the*guide vtubeof-a :n'ew vaporizer unit: so that the point thereof isadapted to -pass through the orifice 22 .of fthe'fuel tip 2 l EThehookediend 24 iofnthe 'cleanoutznee'dle is :then engaged with E theapertured ear "26 ofzthezoperatingiplunger1:2

after rwhich the belleshaped flange-1Z5 .is moved in seatin'g contact'With'ithe beveled s eat i L6. ..The union nut :8 is then turneduponxthe ineck'1 into engagement with the 'threadsaon the branch .4 defthe'control valve. -When the 'nut'is tight the internal-shoulder 14therein isi'inclamping engagement with thebelleshap'ed flange of thevaporizer tube to provide a leak-tight joint and supportrf'or thevaporizer .uniton-the controlvalve. When the fuel control valve isopen-liquid fuel :fiOWs :around the plunger -12 through the heck I of.the' vaporizer tube *into the space between the swage portion6-:andithemackingbox: 35: and through the passageways into the vaporizin:section .ofithe tube wherein the liquid is changed .to a vapor-by heatwhich is transmitted responsive to burning of the fuel in the burner(non-shown) *whichthe vaporizer is serving. The-ava porpasses throughthe screen I 1 -and%through'-the orifice 22 ofthe fuelrtip-2 l.

Any solid-.parti'cles which mayresult from decomposition ofobjectionable components of the fuel .collect within 1 the vaporizingschamber'of the tube butwthecapacitythereof is such as tozaccommodate alargevamount of the material-:before it is necessary to replace thevaporizingnnit. :At times the orifice-of the'fuel tip may tendito clogwith the :solidpar'ticles .but these :are: readily re.- moved uponprojecting the needle point through the orifice 22 byactuationzofthe'arotary lever :43.

From "the foregoingita is'aobvious that Ihave provided avapori-zer unit'of :simple and :inexpensive .construction sothat it is..economicallypracticable to :discard the -.unit when necessary and replace it=with an'ewzunit thereby: permitting use i of ordinaryiautomotive fuels.

:It-isalsowobvious-that the contained guide' ztube and packing boxxcarried zt'herebylprevents any interference of g the particles whichmay result through decomposition :of :portions contain'ed'zin the fuelfrom interfering with operationsofi the cleanout-needle,

-What =I':claim :and desire -torse'cure :by iLetters Patentis:

v1. .A "vaporizer nnit adapt d -for use with a,

cleanout needle including, a tubular body, a fuel discharge tip at oneend of said body, a guide tube coaxially arranged within the tubularbody, a plurality of screens in said end of the body and havingregistering openings coaxially aligning with the discharge tip forreceiving and supporting one end of the guide tube, a spider-like platehaving points indented in said tubular body for supporting the other endof the guide tube, a packing box connected with the guide tube adjacentthe spider-like plate, and a packing sleeve in the packing box adaptedto seal about the stem of the cleanout needle when projected through theguide tube.

2. A vaporizer unit adapted for use with a cleanout needle including, atubular body, a fuel discharge tip at one end of said body, the oppositeend of the tubular body having a reduced neck portion forming a fuelinlet to said body, a plurality of screen elements in the end of thetubular [body carrying said discharge tip, a spiderlike memberengagingwithin the tubular body near the reduced portion thereof, said screenelements and plate having coaxial openings, a guide tube supported insaid openings, a stufiingbox connected with the guide tube at the platesupported end of said tube, and a packing in said box adapted to sealabout the stem of the cleanout needle when projected through the guidetube.

3. A vaporizer unit adapted for use with a cleanout needle including, atubular body, a fuel discharge tip at one end of said body, the oppositeend of the tubular body having a reduced neck portion forming a fuelinlet to said body, a plurality of screen elements in the end of thetubular body carrying said discharge tip, a substantiallytriangular-shaped plate in said (body at the reduced portion thereof,said screen elements and plate having coaxial openings, a guide tubesupported in said openings, a stuffing box connected with the guide tubewithin said reduced portion of the tubular body, and a packing in saidbox adapted to seal about the stem of the cleanout needle when projectedthrough the guide tube.

4. A vaporizer unit adapted for use with a cleanout needle including, atubular body, a coaxial guide tube within the tubular body, a fueldischarge tip at one end of said body, a plurality of screens in saidend of the body and having an opening coaxially with the discharge tipfor receiving and supporting one end of the guide tube, a spider-likeplate supporting the other end of the guide tube in said body, a packingbox connected with the guide tube, and a packing sleeve in the packingbox adapted to seal about the stem of the cleanout needle when projectedthrough the guide tube.

5. A vaporizer unit including a tubular body having a swedge portion atone end terminating in a reduced cylindrical neck, a discharge tip onthe opposite end of the tubular body, a cleanout needle guide tube,means supporting the cleanout needle guide tube coaxially with thedischarge tip including a plate having apeXes thereof indented withinthe tubular body at the base of said swedge portion and provided with anaxial opening, a sleeve-like packing box having a reduced collar portionengaged in said opening and having an annular shoulder engaging theplate, an outturned flange on said collar cooperating with the shoulderto anchor the packing box to the plate-like support, a sleeve-likepacking Within the packing box, a follower in the packing box forcompressing the sleeve-like packing, and an inturned flange on thepacking box retaining the follower.

6. A vaporizer unit including a tubular body having a swedge portion atone end terminating in a reduced cylindrical neck, a discharge tip onthe opposite end of the tubular body, a cleanout needle guide tube,means supporting the cleanout needle guide tube coaxially with thedischarge tip including a plate having apexes thereof indented withinthe tubular body at the base of said swedge portion and provided with anaxial opening, a sleeve-like packing box having a reduced collar portionengaged in said opening and having an annular shoulder engaging theplate and cooperating with a turned over portion of the collar to anchorthe packing box to the platelike support, a sleeve-like packing withinthe packing box, a follower in the packing box for compressing thesleeve-like packing, an inturned flange on the packing box retaining thefollower, fastening means rotatably slidable on the neck, and anoutwardly flaring flange on said neck cooperating with theswedge portionto retain the fastening means.

'7. A vaporizer unit including, a tubular body,

' a fuel discharge tip at one end of said body, a

cleanout needle guide tube in said body, a fuel inlet connection at theopposite end of the tubular body, means supporting one end of the guidetube in said body coaxially with the discharge tip, means spaced fromsaid inlet connection in the direction of the fuel discharge tip forsupporting the other end of the guide tube coaxially of the tubularbody, and packing means connected with the end of the guide tube betweensaid inlet connection and the last named supporting means for sealingabout the stem of a cleanout needle when the cleanout needle isprojected through the guide tube, both of said supporting means beingarranged to pass fuel from the fuel inlet connection to the fueldischarge tip.

8. A vaporizer unit including, a tubular body having a coaxial fuelinlet at one end, a fuel discharge tip at the other end of said body, acleanout needle guide tube in said body, means in the tubular body andspaced from the fuel inlet end for coaxially supporting the adjacent endof the guide tube, said supporting means being arranged to pass fuelfrom the inlet toward the fuel discharge tip, foraminated meanssupporting the other end of the guide tube within said body, and packingmeans connected with the guide tube at said inlet-supported end to sealabout the stem of a cleanout needle when the cleanout needle isprojected through the guide tube.

9. A vaporizer unit including, a tubular body, a fuel discharge tip atone end of said body, a fuel inlet connection at the other end of thetubular body, a coaxial guide tube within the tubular body, a pluralityof screens in the tip end of the body having registering openingscoaxially aligning with the discharge tip to support an end of the guidetube, a support in the tubular body between the inlet connection andsaid screens for supporting the other end of the guide tube, a packingbox connected with the support and the guide tube, and a packing sleevein the packing box adapted to seal about the stem of a cleanout needlewhen projected through the guide tube, said support being arranged topass fuel from the inlet connection toward the fuel discharge tip.

10. A vaporizer unit including, a tubular body,

ems-gear) a. lcoaxialacleamnt 'cneedle -guide tube within (the tubularbody, means supporting the eleanout needle. guide ituhe coaxially withthe dischargetip including arplate having :apexes thereof indentedwithin :the tubular body and vvprovided with an axial opening, .asleeve-like packing box having aqreduced'collar portion engaged in saidopening and having an annular shoulder engaging the plate, an inturnedflange on said collar cooperating with the shoulder to anchor the.packing box ,to. the, (plate, of said support, a sleeve-like packingwithin. the packing box, a follower .in the packing box for compressingthe sleeve-like packing, and'anv inturnedxflange 0nthe :packingbox'zreltaining the follower.

:11. A vaporizer unit including a tubular body, a fnelrdischarge tip at,one endof said :body, the opposite end: of-saidbodyhaving a reduced neckportion forming alshoulder in said'body, a. union nut slid'able on saidneck, arfiange on said neck cooperating with the shoulder portion toretain the union nut a cleanout eneedle'gui'de. tube .extendingcoax'ially of the tubular body, a spiderlike support within the tubularbody an'dlseated on the shoulder for retaining one end of saidgzuid'eutube in coaxial relation, a poroussupp'orting-meansat the tipend ofqthe tubular body'for 8 supporting i'the other end of the guide:tube, and azpacking :material filling the space between "the tubularbody and tubular guide and extending between the spider-like support andsaid pporous supporting means.

BOYD W. TUILI'S'.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 268,777 Baker Dec. 12, 18826545669 Perillat July '31, 1-900 7213447 Howells'et al .-Feb. 24, I903910,685 Hubert Jan. 26, 1909 1 23603324: Ti'lley' Nov. 30', 192015416328 Blanchard May 16,1922

1 6673613 'Tilley Apr;'24, 1928 211083882 Tullis July'23; 1935 20403223Tullis 'May'-1-2 1936 123765034 Gronow etal. Mar. 10, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 600,319 France Nov. 4, -1925

